Still time to weigh in on state forest planning

There's still time to make sure officials know your thoughts on future management of Penn's Woods. Why are public lands important to you? 

Rock Run stream, Loyalsock State Forest

As we posted in a recent blog, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is taking citizen input on how it manages our state forests in twelve public meetings -- happening now -- on the Draft State Forest Resource Management Plan (SFRMP). 

The draft plan, last revised in 2007, is the main tool the Bureau of Forestry uses to manage Pennsylvania's approximately 2.2 million acre state forest system. 

At each public meeting, DCNR staff will take input in a small group setting and record your comments. In our previous blog post you'll find more details and a full meeting schedule through November 18.

Do you camp, fish, or hike in PA's forests? Are you concerned about the environmental impacts of unconventional gas development? What kinds of conservation issues are important to you in preserving our state forest system and its natural and recreational treasures? 

This is your chance to be part of the public process and help protect these special places -- like the Clarence Moore Lands of the Loyalsock State Forest, pictured above -- for future generations.

Upcoming meetings include October 29 in Clarion, November 3 in State College, November 10 in Carlisle, and November 12 in Williamsport. All meetings take place from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. and we have the full details and locations. 

Can't make a meeting? Written comments are also accepted through November 30 at StateForestPlan2015@pa.gov.

Kate Gibbons is Northeastern PA outreach coordinator and is based in Wilkes-Barre.

Citizen feedback sought as PA revises forest management plan

It's the public's chance to weigh in on how the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is managing our state forests. DCNR has released the fall 2015 public meeting schedule for the public to comment on the Draft State Forest Resource Management Plan. 

The draft plan, last revised in 2007, is the main tool the Bureau of Forestry uses to manage Pennsylvania's approximately 2.2 million acre state forest system. Shale gas and water resources in state forests are among the numerous areas covered in this draft document. 

How does this affect you? 
You should attend a meeting and be prepared to express your concerns if you:

• use trails on state forest land; 
• are troubled about gas development on these lands; 
• like to camp or fish along streams that run through state forestland; 
• treasure Pennsylvania's vast expanses of forests; and 
• care how they will be impacted by climate change.

Because public lands matter now and for generations, it is important that you plan to attend and provide input at the meetings. The first meeting is on Tuesday, October 6 in Wilkes-Barre, with a total of 12 meetings across Pennsylvania through November 18. All meetings take place from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Written comments are also accepted through November 30 at StateForestPlan2015@pa.gov. Visit DCNR's website for additional information on the process. 

This is a key opportunity to provide input to the commonwealth. Watch for information about how to submit written comments with links to key issues and talking points coming soon from PennFuture. 

LOCATION	DATE	VENUE
Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton	Tuesday, Oct. 6	The Woodlands Resort 1073 Hwy 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
Stroudsburg	Wednesday, Oct. 7	Stroudsmoor Inn 257 Stroudsmoor Rd Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Philadelphia	Thursday, Oct. 8	Fairmount Park Horticulture Center 100 N Horticulture Dr Philadelphia, PA 19131
Renovo	Wednesday, Oct. 21	Bucktail High School Cafeteria 1300 Bucktail Ave Renovo, PA 17764
Coudersport	Thursday, Oct. 22	Pennsylvania Lumber Museum 5660 US-6 Ulysses, PA 16948
Bedford	Tuesday, Oct. 27	Bedford Travelodge 4517 US-220 BUS Bedford, PA 15522
Pittsburgh	Wednesday, Oct. 28	Double Tree Hotel, Pittsburgh - Monroeville 101 Mall Blvd Monroeville, PA 15146
Clarion	Thursday, Oct. 29	Park Inn by Radisson 45 Holiday Inn Rd Clarion, PA 16214
State College	Tuesday, Nov. 3	Ramada Inn: Nittany Room 1450 S Atherton St State College, PA 16801
Carlisle	Tuesday, Nov. 10	Comfort Suites 10 S Hanover St Carlisle, PA 17013
Williamsport	Thursday, Nov. 12	Genetti Hotel: Terrace Room 200 W 4th St Williamsport, PA 17701

Kate Gibbons is Northeastern Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture and is based in Wilkes-Barre. 

DCNR Acting Secretary Cindy Dunn honored by National Wildlife Federation

Cindy Adams Dunn, acting secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), was honored on March 12 by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) for her contributions and achievements in the environmental field. Her work to reduce carbon pollution, promote clean energy, and protect wildlife and their habitats from the risks of climate change has made her a recipient of the Women in Conservation Award, given to those deserving women that have shown exceptional leadership and dedication to conservation and climate action.

Dunn follows in the footsteps of other strong women who have had significant roles in the conservation movement, including fellow Pennsylvania native, Rachel Carson. Carson, most famously known for her book, Silent Spring, brought the environmental movement to mainstream America during the 1960s. Present-day environmental leader Gina McCarthy, the current Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has taken the necessary steps forward to protect people and wildlife from the effects of climate change by proposing the agency’s Clean Power Plan, a standard to reduce industrial carbon pollution.

“Cindy is a true asset to the conservation community,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “We at NWF believe that highlighting and bringing women into the environmental story is important to reach the common goal of protecting all people, communities, landscapes and our precious wildlife from the impacts of climate change.”

PennFuture is proud to be the Pennsylvania affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.

Jennifer Quinn is central Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture and is based in Harrisburg. She tweets @QuinnJen1.

Governor's plan for leasing on state lands brings questions but no answers.

Last week, I attended the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (DCNR) Natural Gas Advisory Committee meeting to get a first glimpse of the highly anticipated Marcellus Monitoring Report. The meeting was divided into two parts, with the second half devoted to the monitoring report and the first focusing on Governor Tom Corbett's proposal to allow further leasing of Pennsylvania’s state parks and state forests so long as there is no additional “surface disturbance.”

The governor’s proposal would require drilling of the newly leased lands to occur from adjacent private lands or from already leased state lands. Given these restrictions, representatives from the gas industry expressed serious concerns regarding the practicality and feasibility of the proposal. Essentially, the big question was: Is it really possible to not have additional surface disturbance?

Here’s why. Well pads are designed for a certain number of wells, and wells can’t be drilled like spokes in a wheel; rather, the direction of their laterals is often determined by geology. These constraints only raised more questions, e.g. can drillers request additional well pads if they’re allowed under the existing lease? Can drillers expand existing pads if that’s needed to make drilling feasible?

Industry representatives also said that some temporary disturbance will be needed, and this prompted multiple questions from committee members, including: What is temporary? How long is temporary? Does the disturbance have to be low impact? What is low impact? Would seismic testing be permitted?

All of these questions raised concerns over the value of these leases. Specifically, given the restrictions in the governor’s proposal and the limited access drillers would have, would this lack of competition devalue the leases?  

Unfortunately, none of these questions were answered, and you have to wonder: Just how well thought out was the governor’s proposal?

Jennifer Quinn is central Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture and is based in Harrisburg. She tweets @QuinnJen1.

Say it ain't so: Corbett's budget calls for more gas leasing of public lands

Governor Tom Corbett delivered his annual budget address this week, along with his proposed FY 2014-15 budget.

The headline: The governor plans to lift a three-year-old moratorium on the further leasing of public lands for gas development to fill a budget gap. The budget factors in $75 million in drilling revenue to be accrued via further leasing of state park and forest lands for gas development.

The Corbett administration refers to the new drilling under public lands as "non-impact" drilling -- because no new well pads will be constructed, according to budget secretary Charles Zogby. It is unclear whether approved, but not yet built, well pads will fall under the moratorium. 

Of course, "non-impact drilling" is a fallacy -- even horizontal drilling without more surface disturbances creates more air pollution, more truck traffic, more water withdrawals, and more toxic waste water. And drilling just outside park or forest boundaries creates real risks for these public lands should spills or other accidents occur. 

Bottom line: Gov. Corbett is attempting to balance the state budget on the backs of our state parks and forest lands when he should be protecting these special places for this and future generations. 

Pennsylvania holds and manages its public lands in trust for all citizens of the Commonwealth, including generations yet to come. We have a responsibility to preserve and protect them, not sell them out for quick cash. 

Also of concern: The diversion of $117.5 million from the state's Oil and Gas Lease Fund (OGLF) as operational budget money for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The OGLF was originally designated for conservation, recreation and flood control programs in state parks and forests. 

Governor Corbett is not the first governor to raid the Oil and Gas Lease Fund -- but the practice is growing more alarming as our conservation and natural resource agencies are increasingly reliant on the rapid exploitation of the very resources they should be conserving. 

Governor's Enhance Penn's Woods initiative: Gov. Corbett announced the Enhance Penn's Woods initiative as part of his 2014-2015 budget proposal, allocating $45 million in new funding for parks and infrastructure. 

While moving to enhance public lands is always good news, the question remains as to when a new, and permanent, revenue stream will be put in place to protect Pennsylvania's crown jewels, our public lands. 

Our state parks are not only recreational and cultural assets, they are also an economic driver. For every dollar spent in state parks, thirteen dollars is returned to the economy of Pennsylvania. 

Despite this value, there has been a chronic under-investment in state park and forest resources -- because of this patchwork funding and lack of a consistent revenue stream. 

Corbett proposes DEP staff cut, increase in funding: The governor proposed a $10 million increase in general fund support for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), from $129.8 million to $139.9 million. (For context, the DEP general fund budget was $245.6 million in 2002-2003.)**

Yet, he also proposed slashing 66 jobs at DEP — the agency tasked with policing the gas industry and protecting our air, land, and water. DEP has seen a 17 percent decrease in staffing over the past decade. 

It's hard to fathom how Pennsylvania is supposed to regulate an expanding industry with decreasing manpower. 

** Correction: In our original publication, we stated that that Governor Corbett proposed to increase the DEP’s 2014-15 funding to $136.7 million, while noting that the DEP’s total budget in 2002-2003 was more than $700 million. While true, this statement was confusing because $136.7 million is not the DEP’s proposed total 2014-2015 budget – only the share of the budget that would come from the general fund. The DEP’s total budget for 2014-2015 (including special fund monies and federal appropriations, as well as general fund monies) is proposed to be $689.3 million. By contrast, the DEP’s 2002-2003 budget was $728.3 million, or about $922 million in inflation-adjusted dollars.

Andrew Sharp is PennFuture's Director of Outreach and is based in our Philadelphia office.